Despite its English common name, the purple heron actually has a chestnut-red head and neck with striking vertical black stripes, grey shoulders and outer-wings, and a rich chestnut stomach and inner-wings (3). The Spanish name for the purple heron is garza imperial, which translates as the ‘imperial heron’, perhaps a more suitable name for this vibrant-looking species. Its regal appearance is emphasised by the elongated golden-ochre beak, proportionally larger than most species of its genus (2). Its kinked, snake-like neck is coiled into an s-shape when in flight, and with longer toes than other similar species, the purple heron can wade over floating vegetation with ease (4) (5). Although both sexes are similar in appearance, the female is lighter than the male (2). The juvenile heron is duller, with a beige and brown chest, and it lacks the neck stripes and the extended plumage of the adult (3).

The purple heron is common throughout southern and eastern Europe, central and southern Asia, and Africa (6). Four subspecies are recognised: Ardea purpurea purpurea’s breeding range extends from eastern and southern Europe, east to Iran and as far south as South Africa (8). Ardea purpurea bournei breeds on Santiago Island in the Cape Verde Islands and Ardea purpurea madagascariensis occurs in Madagascar and the Seychelles. The breeding range of Ardea purpurea manilensis stretches from south of the Himalayas, through India to Sri Lanka, and east to China, Russia, and south-east Asia (8).

The purple heron inhabits wetland habitat such as swamps, reed-beds, rice-fields, and lake shores (2). It is found from sea-level up to an altitude of about 1,800 metres (2).

Usually feeding at dusk or dawn, the purple heron has a very varied diet consisting of fish, salamanders, frogs, insects, crustaceans, spiders, molluscs, small birds, mammals, snakes and lizards (6) (7). It hunts by hiding in vegetation and waiting motionless until prey approaches (2).

Populations breeding in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa are migratory and travel between breeding and wintering grounds (1). However, southern African and tropical Asian populations are non-migratory (2). The purple heron migrates by day, typically in small groups, although in Turkey it is known to migrate in large groups of 350 to 400 individuals (2). Purple herons often nest alongside other heron species, such as the grey heron (2), in groups that typically do not exceed 50 pairs; however, a colony of 1,000 pairs has been recorded (7). Between two and eight eggs are laid, which are incubated for 25 to 27 days, and the fledglings reach independence at around 45 to 50 days (2).

Due to its huge range, the purple heron is not currently considered to be globally threatened (1) (2) (7). Populations, however, are reportedly declining, mainly as a result of human-induced factors (2). The loss of its wetland habitat due to agriculture, drainage, pesticide use and reed cane harvesting has caused concern about some localised populations (2) (7) (8). Also, many flocks of purple herons are migratory and so are sensitive to changes in both their breeding and wintering grounds; for example, the number of breeding individuals recorded in Europe and survival rates after the first year are directly affected by the extent of drought in its African wintering grounds (2).

As this species is not currently considered to be at risk there are no direct conservation efforts in place. However, it is recognised that there is a global threat presented by wetland destruction, and the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in Ramsar, Iran in 1990, allocated 30 million hectares of wetland for strict protection (2).

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact: arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

Crustaceans: diverse group of arthropods (a phylum of animals with jointed limbs and a hard chitinous exoskeleton) characterised by the possession of two pairs of antennae, one pair of mandibles (parts of the mouthparts used for handling and processing food) and two pairs of maxillae (appendages used in eating, which are located behind the mandibles). Includes crabs, lobsters, shrimps, slaters, woodlice and barnacles.

Genus: a category used in taxonomy, which is below ‘family’ and above ‘species’. A genus tends to contain species that have characteristics in common. The genus forms the first part of a ‘binomial’ Latin species name; the second part is the specific name.

Molluscs: a diverse group of invertebrates, mainly marine, that have one or all of the following; a horny, toothed ribbon in the mouth (the radula), a shell covering the upper surface of the body, and a mantle or mantle cavity with a type of gill. Includes snails, slugs, shellfish, octopuses and squid.

Subspecies: a population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species, but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species.